ASUS turned more than a few heads with its original
Eee PC 401. The $399 device came out of nowhere and stole the hearts of
many computer enthusiasts (and non-enthusiasts). Over time, ASUS released models
that slotted under
and above
the original 4G model and added more colorful options.

Earlier this month, details began
to leak on the Eee PC 900. The Eee PC 900 features an 8.9", 1024x600
display (up from a 7", 800x480 display) along with more SSD storage space
(8GB for Windows XP, 12GB for Xandros Linux).

It was later revealed that the slightly
larger Eee PC 900 will support HDDs in the future along with Intel's Diamondville-based Intel Atom processor for increased
battery life and performance in comparison to the existing Celeron-M. "In
the near future, we also are trying to support one-day computing which would
provide more than 8 hours. I think in May we might be closer to providing
that," said ASUS CEO Jerry Shen.

Other options that will come to the Eee PC lineup in the
future include WiMAX and HSDPA.

Today, however, we were all greeted with a wealth of new
information (and pictures) on the new Eee PC 900. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) website is abuzz with a new entry detailing ASUS' latest and
greatest. The FCC entry provides numerous pictures of the Eee PC 900 from the
inside and the outside along with the device's user manual.

Perusing through the pictures
and manuals, we learn that despite what ASUS' CEO previously mentioned, the
power adapter used for the new Eee PC 900 is much larger than the original Eee
PC 401. While not a deal-breaker for many people, it's something to take note
of for travel purposes.

The internal photos also show that the Eee PC now has
Bluetooth. This is a welcome addition for mobile warriors that use Bluetooth
mice and don't want to carry around an addition Bluetooth dongle or RF dongle
for traditional wireless mice.

Also new to the Eee PC 900 is what it calls "Multi-finger
gesture input". This allows users to perform iPhone/iPod touch-esque
gestures such as "pinching" to zoom in and out in applications.

If pricing holds firm at the previously reported $500 for
the Eee PC 900, this could make quite a popular entry with consumers. Throw in
the rumored touch screen and GPS and things could get really interesting.

Please excuse Pirks, his attitude does not represent the majority of Apple users. I think its a little condescending to lay all of Apple's considerable success on solely Marketing. OS X is a wonderful solid OS and customer satisfaction is high amongst Mac owners, believe it or not. I don't know anyone who owns an iPhone who doesn't love it for example. All the marketing in the world can't convince people that they love a product if after they buy it they realise that they've been conned or the product is *all* marketing and no substance...

This is rare and rather than just being attributable to 'marketing' it results from Apple designing the way the devices interact with Humans to be slightly less jarring than their competitors. This is an intangible which few people seem to realise is important and even fewer get right but there's not much point having the best specs in an unwieldy and frustrating to operate device, no matter how much it costs. HTC and Windows Mobile users take note please (<> Former HTC TYTN user here) Apple integrates features such as the backlit keyboard into say, the Macbook pro so that they look less like gimmicks than they do on for example the Saitek Eclipse and more industrially designed. I'm sure that unlike Apple, MS windows licensed the Xerox graphical OS completely legally, but I digress.

You could say that Apple understand their customer base unusually well and listening to customers is to be commended. The iPod Touch was a master stroke because it took most of the interesting features of the iPhone (i.e. the touch bit) and stuck it on a cheapo device for people to try before they buy an iPhone. Their success is reflected in their share price, so the approach whatever it is, works. Agreed on the point re: AT&T though, its very annoying.

Sorry, I didn't mean to stretch the marketing bit so hard. I was just trying to simplify it for Pirks. Apple does generally make solid products, with the user interface being the big polished hook. They can read the market well, which I was lumping in with marketing.

I'm always a little surprised when I see what people think Apple invented, especially when that feature ends up in something else and this new product "copied" but Apple "innovated." Too much RDF koolaid.

Oh, and Pirks, in case you missed the memo, Apple is now using Intel products, so the "wintel" deragatory may need a little work.

robinthakur, why are you so late? I have to battle Wintel fanboys all by myself. If you posted here faster and more often then I wouldn't be posting here so much. You're saying exactly what I'm saying but for some magical reason Wintel fanboys don't downrate you. Please post here more often.

Where have you been when yet another Wintel idiot teldar said the standard stupidity about "Apple hardware being twice the price"? If you replied to that moron on time I wouldn't be waging another war with fanboys here :)